Vicissitude

Definition

1.

a. A change or variation.

b. The quality of being changeable; mutability.

2. One of the sudden or unexpected changes or shifts often encountered in one's life, activities, or surroundings. Often used in the plural.

Open up wide, swallow down deep

No spoon full of sugar could make it sweet

The cancer inside, stealing my sleep

Night after night, it keeps haunting me

The secrets I keep are tearing me up inside

I try to hide and then I wonder why

I wonder why I'm still running

When I know there's no escaping

Come undone, surrender is stronger

I don't need to be the hero tonight

We all want love, we all want honor

Nobody wants to pay the asking price

Fall on my knees, fall on my pride

I'm tripping over all the times I've lied

I'm asking please but I can see in your eyes

You don't need tears for alibis

It's true what they say, love must be blind

It's why You're still standing by this sinner's side

You're still by my side

When all the things I've done have left You bleeding.

—Undone - FFH

Chapter Eleven|Flux

"Coming to bed?" she asked him; as she stood he stood with her.

Itachi stopped and looked at her back. When he didn't reply right away she turned to look at him, eyes curious and brows high.

"Is something wrong?"

He shook his head.

"You don't have to. I don't expect anything."

"And yet that's the most amazing thing about you," he said without thinking about it.

"You're full of praise tonight." Still, he could tell the compliment warmed her.

"Yes, I'm coming. I suppose I assumed with Tsuande here—."

She laughed out loud at that. "Do you think I give a damn about that? I love my shishou, I do. But, it's been a long time since I was her young charge. I'm a grown woman now. I've seen and done as much as she has. I can sleep with whomever I please.

"Besides, it feels wrong to break tradition." She held a hand out to him.

He stepped up next to her, coal orbs locked on hers as he slid his hand into hers and gripped it softly. He watched as she tilted her head on him, eyeing him a moment longer before moving. He was about to ask her what when she spoke.

"Why wasn't there anyone before me?"

"Does it make a difference?"

"No. I'm not special, just curious."

"I didn't have time for liaisons."

"And you had time for me?"

"What do you think?"

She chuckled once, if the noise could be called that. "Come on."

"I thought you wanted a shower."

"Oh, I do, but I'm too tired to care about that. I'll fight the bugs in there in the morning, unless Tsunade-sama got to it before me. Either way, I don't care to find out tonight." This was said as they made way up the stairs and into the hall.

He let her poke at a few rooms, avoiding the one where they could both sense her teacher and Naruto.

"I didn't think any of them would have a real bed," she said aloud as the final door was opened. "Must be the master suite." She released his hand and stepped forward, yanking the musty sheet off the bed to reveal clean, however old, bedding. He slid the door shut quietly and watched as she began pulling her clothes off next. He stilled as the armor dropped the floor, the pouches, the top… everything. He couldn't stop staring, as if caught in a genjutsu of her making. As the bindings fell, revealing the full expanse of her backside… her underwear that she stepped out of. He didn't realize he had moved, that his arms had moved to wrap around her, until she leaning back into him.

His eyes closed and he inhaled the smell of her hair, tucking his nose in the many strands.

"What did you do that last time?" she asked quietly.

"With the Mangekyo?"

She nodded.

He smiled. "Something I probably could only do with you because I can't break you to my will within it… I made you apart of it because you allowed it. And then I opened my mind to yours."

She turned in his arms, eyes flashing to his with concern.

His finger settled over her lips. "Because I wanted to."

Green pools softened as he dropped his hand and settled both on her bare hips. They stood there for a while, staring at one another as he rolled circles into her skin. He didn't mind drowning in her, getting lost in her with just a look.

For once in his life… Itachi had no idea what he was doing. When it came to Sakura there was no elaborate plan, or ideal future route or path.

There was just this.

For as long as it lasted.

It didn't have a name, a reason, a purpose, or ulterior motive attached to it. He felt like he was on a boat, allowing the river that was her take him where she wanted—where they led each other. And that was ok. He could be real with her in a way he hadn't been with anyone, not even himself, in a long while. No, perhaps never had.

There was peace in that, in her—this.

When he dipped his head to meet her lips she opened for him, inhaling softly and joining him wholly. There was no hesitance in her; there never would be.

She pulled his clothes off and he allowed her, reveled in her way her hands spread over the skin on his chest and back. He loved the way it made him feel: warm, accepted, wanted—for himself and not simply because of what his reputation made him out to be.

Bare, he picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist. When they fell to mattress his lips met hers again; they found their way to her neck… her shoulder… chin. He listened to her sigh and whisper his name. His hand curled over her hip, her thigh, massaging as her fingers wove into his hair. She tugged at the tie and released the black expanse; it curtained their faces as he pulled back to watch her while his fingers moved towards her center.

She bucked under him, arching as he gently caressed; as he slid one, two, fingers in.

"Please," she breathed, pushing him down.

He kissed her again, but didn't still his hand. His lips trailed down her throat… breasts—pausing only to tease a nipple. He licked a path of delicate flame down her middle, shifting until he settled to a better position. It was then he blew a breath over her swollen center.

"Fuck," he heard her say.

It was all he needed to hear before he drew the tiny bud into his mouth and rolled his tongue over it.

She writhed under him; he could hear the comforter shift as she tugged on it. He felt as her body arched and placed a hand on her stomach to hold her down. When her hands went to his head he couldn't help but feel some sense of pride at his own ability. But then it really paled in comparison to the way it made him feel to do this for her.

His fingers were drenched, he realized he reached for that inner place and curled them.

Her nails dug into his scalp and she cried out, shaking all over—sated. He didn't stop moving as he pulled his fingers and mouth away from her body. Instead he came above her, damp lips joining hers as he slid into her in one motion. Her hands were back in his hair, digging, tugging; they were on his back, scratching and tearing into his flesh as he thrust into that heat.

"Kami," she cried out against his lips as she moved with him, ground against him, "don't stop. Please don't stop…!"

He didn't think he could if he tried.

His forehead rested on hers, slick with moisture. His scent; her scent; the musk mingled with one smell riding over the other. Their bodies were thick with it and he didn't care.

Her eyes opened to his and he could read what she wanted within. It took a quarter of a second for him to turn on the Mangekyo and connect them once again. But it was different; this time she gave more—knowing what it was. He could see her pain, pleasure, joy, the way she saw him. It resonated in a way that made his chest ache. But then she felt that too; he knew once her voice choked back something and he felt her again

Kami.

What was this?

"It doesn't need a name," he heard her say before she was kissing him again. Please don't give it a name yet. Not yet.

He didn't understand that request, but she'd feel that to.

Still, it didn't matter. At the same time they let go, releasing and crying out into one another. His eyes shut and the doujutsu was broken as he hung over her, panting. He didn't open his eyes until his heart calmed, until he felt her own still to an easy rhythm. When he did she was staring at him deeply—because that was the only way to describe it.

"Not yet," she told him again, acknowledging what had been passed between them both in the connection.

He leaned forward after a moment and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"I know."

Many hours passed on where Itachi slept, his arms lazily wrapped around Sakura. They didn't move too much in their sleep, but he was known for rolling from one side to other. So, when a knock came at the bedroom door he wasn't too surprised to find her front pressed into his back, arm slung haphazardly over his hip, one leg spreading his two.

Quietly, he extracted himself and grabbed his pants off the floor. He pulled the blanket back over her before walking over to the rice-paper barrier. When he opened it he stepped out and shut it behind him, not wanting to wake Sakura. "Hokage-sama," he acknowledged.

"Is Sakura with you?" she asked quietly, appearing to feel the tone of hushed voices.

It was silly for her to ask. Of course she knew. Tsunade would have felt her chakra signature clear as day; his as well. But, she was being polite about it. He nodded. "Still asleep, but yes. Why?"

"Don't bother her now, but when she wakes up tell her I need to speak with her about Naruto. I'm going to need her help clearing out his system after we eat something."

Ah… that was right. They carried everything in sealing scrolls. Speaking of which… they had some bodies to get rid of. He nodded again. "No, I need to wake her up. It'll be fine.

"You're probably starving anyway." His eyes were apologetic. "All we've got is energy bars. Although, I can hunt for something now that we're far enough away from Fire."

She waved a hand. "I'll be glad to have anything right now. I'm sure it's a shot above what they fed me in that steel cage, believe me.

"I'll wait downstairs for you both."

He assented with another drop of his head and turned. But, it was then that Tsunade took his wrist, stilling him. He looked at her, met her careful and emotional gaze. He watched as her eyes narrowed.

"Take care with her heart."

He wasn't surprised by the request, had been waiting for it the moment he felt her presence beyond the door. "I'm sure you know Sakura can—."

"She can very well take care of herself," she agreed, interrupting him. "I helped give her that backbone, that strong heart. But, it can easily be broken in the wrong hands… just as anyone's can—yours even.

"So please, take care with it. If not because I asked you… than because she's the closest thing to a daughter I've ever imagined having. And that means something, Itachi." She frowned. "Sasuke was a poor keeper; he never wanted it. I don't have to imagine what she's been through the last years… but, regardless of how strong she appears… Sakura will always be Sakura. Underneath it all she is an emotional woman… just as I am. I can see she hides it well now… which is for the better all considered.

"But, it is probably you who will see more of that truth than anyone else."

She was very astute… more than he ever gave her credit for. She saw far more than he even considered with just a few observations. "I understand it as well as she does, yes."

It was Tsunade's turn to nod.

"No threat of breaking bones?" he couldn't help but inquire as she released him and turned to go.

"I don't think you need my petty threats, Uchiha."

"And why is that?"

"Because," she laughed, "You might be a man, but you weren't born with all the stupidity that comes along with being one." And then she was gone.

It wasn't until he couldn't hear her anymore that he laughed softly, totally unsure of how to take her sexism. In many ways Sakura was just like her mentor, but in many others she was vastly different.

When she slid open the door she was rubbing her eyes and sitting up in bed.

"Did someone knock?"

"Tsunade wants to speak with you." He reached for his clothes. "After that and breakfast we need to dispose of some bodies… get some lunch. One of us probably needs to go to nearby town to get Naruto and her some clothes.

"They can't keep wearing those white smocks."

"Agreed," she said she got up and began dressing as well. "She needs to know where we're going from here. Did she say anything about Naruto?"

"She's going to need your help, but not much else."

Sakura left the armor off, as well as the bindings. She'd put that on later, probably after a shower. It would work for breakfast.

"Where is the nearest town, anyway?"

"Three miles west. I can go and make it back in a few hours while you both work on Naruto."

"I'll give you a list. Remind me," she told him and she made way to the door. "Did she threaten you?"

"You could say that."

Sakura snorted. "Meet you downstairs." The door clipped shut and the pinkette took the stairs by twos until landing on the bottom with a thump.

"Good morning," Tsunade told her from the kitchen as she came in, one cup of coffee in hand.

"There's coffee?" Sakura asked in mock reverence.

"Oh yes," Tsunade smiled over her mug as she sat down at the rounded table.

"Fabulous." She took a mug from the cabinet that was still open and poured herself a cup.

"No sugar or cream though. Tastes like piss too."

"Who cares. It's coffee." She took a sip only when she sat down. And then the grimaced.

"Told you."

She smacked her lips. "No, you're wrong. That's definitely tar… piss has a more tangy flavor."

She shrugged and drank some more.

Sakura set hers down and pulled a scroll out of her pouch. She glanced at it to be sure; no need to pop a rotting body on the table. Now that would really ruin her appetite. She rolled it out and performed the hand sign. When the cloud cleared there was a pile of energy bars on the table.

"Chocolate chip, strawberry, vanilla, or peanut butter?" she asked, eyeing the labels.

"One of each, but no peanut butter."

Sakura tossed the three to her and took a chocolate chip for herself. The wrapping peeled off easily and she took a bite. The flavor mixed oddly with the shit coffee. "So, how bad is Naruto?"

"Not bad at all, actually. It's like he was never stuck in a bed… I'm not sure what they did, but they didn't want him wasting away. But, the drugs would take at least a week to flush out of his system the normal way. We've got to get him awake before then or his body will suffer from lack of fluids and food now that he's not on a drip for those nutrients."

"How long will it take with us working together?"

"Three days if we don't overdo it."

Sakura took another bite. "We've got to leave here tonight. Itachi is going to go get you some better clothes—Naruto too."

"Where are we headed?"

"To a ship in a port city not far from here. It departs around midnight. We figured if we headed to Tea they'd never suspect that route right away, because it leads to a dead end. And because Tea isn't known for shipping by sea despite its location…"

Tsunade smiled. "You figured you'd take the ship and kill the trail, landing in another country and effectively avoiding detection."

"Exactly." She nodded. "We'll take the boat and have plenty of down time to work on Naruto."

"What are your plans after?"

Sakura shrugged. "I suppose it really depends on Naruto. Honestly? Nothing. My plans never really exceeded getting him out."

"Shouldn't we try to find Kakashi and the others?"

"I wouldn't mind… but, like I told you, I haven't heard anything of them. Nothing. It's like they faded off the map." She snapped her fingers to emphasize this point. "But, it is something we can contemplate after Naruto is awake."

Tsuande chewed on her bar and Sakura could see she was deep in thought.

"What?"

She sighed. "We can't leave Konoha like that."

"I know… but…"

"You've done your part, Sakura. Don't worry about it for now. But, it is something I need to think about. And it really is something we'll have to address once Naruto is conscious.

"He'll want to find the others—fix things. I do." Her frown was deep as she rubbed her chin. "That bastard can't stay in power."

Sakura smiled at her fire; it was nice to see it again. For so long… She swallowed and closed her eyes. It wouldn't do to cry now. She wanted to, but it wouldn't do. It was hard not to though. The rush was gone; they didn't have much to worry about now. And so it was easy to think about all that time she'd tried to let go of her teacher.

In all that time she'd truly understood how Naruto felt.

"Sakura?"

"Hm?" She opened her eyes and looked up at her.

The blonde was frowning further. "What's wrong?"

She opened her mouth to lie to her, but then this was Tsunade. She wasn't that girl anymore, but she would still see right through it somehow. She smiled bitterly, earnestly, as she said, "I missed you."

She was already out of her chair and moving to one next to her, sitting down as she took her hands in her own.

"I thought you were dead," she said in a soft rush before Tsuande could speak, looking down at their hands. "And I don't think I ever dealt with that—you not being around. I tried. And then when we were in the compound Itachi said it was you and I…" She swallowed again.

"You can cry, you know," she told her, squeezing a hand. "But, to be fair, I'd never just kill myself.

"That would give that bastard too much satisfaction."

She chuckled a little at that. "I never believed that. I always assumed he'd had it done quietly." She reached up and wiped the wet from her eyes. "And I know… I know. I will at some point. Not now, but soon. Right now I just needed to say I missed you. I'm glad you're here—alive."

"That makes two of us."

Sakura laughed as she looked at her. "On a side note," she got out, still smiling softly, "you really don't need to champion my heart."

"He told you?"

She snorted. "No, I know you."

Tsuande grumbled, shifting in her seat a little as she looked away from her. "I didn't champion you. Nor did I tell him I'd break anything!" she snapped out. "You don't need me to save you, at any rate…

"You've got that all under control… I can tell." Her expression softened, going from blazing hot to warm in an instant as her hand touched the side of her head. "But, with that being said…

"I'll be here if you need me. That will never stop. Not until my ashes are truly in the ground with some god awful monument posted over them." Her nose wrinkled playfully. "Do you think the elders would gripe too much if I had it shaped in some abstract penis?"

This time she really did laugh in earnest. "Probably! Yes!"

She grinned at her former student, knowing the moment of melancholy had finally passed.

"Am I interrupting?" Itachi asked as he stepped into the room fully.

"Not at all," Tsunade replied.

"There's coffee," Sakura told him as she tossed him an energy bar. He grabbed without looking as he passed by. "It tastes like tar though."

"I know."

"Oh?" Tsuande felt the need to ask.

"This used to be an Akatsuki safe house before the war," Sakura informed her as she took another tentative sip from her mug. "We're pretty sure no one's located the rest, so it was a good bet."

Itachi sat down with a bemused smile on his face. "Is there anything you want in town?"

"Besides something to wear?" She shrugged. "Some weapons would do—pouches. I'll be sure to give you my size before you go. Naruto's as well."

He nodded as he ate his energy bar.

"And shoes. I'm not wearing the ones I came in. Nor should Naruto."

"I'll make a list," Sakura reiterated. "But, before then we need hunt for lunch." She finished off her bar and stood. "I'm going to investigate the shower and clean up. Come get me when you're done and we'll head out." She turned to Tsunade. "We'll work on Naruto after lunch?"

"It should only take a few hours to burn a third of it out. So yes. And we'll have time to pack and leave for this port city you were referring to."

"Alright then. If you need me I'll be trying to not scream like an idiot at the bugs…"

Tsuande chuckled as she left.

"She's afraid of them?" Itachi asked.

The blonde waved a hand. "Oh, not really. I mean, if she fought an Aburame she'd be fine. But, out of a fight she's not fond of them. Spiders especially.

"And you? Have any irrational fears?"

"Probably."

Tsuande grinned at the expected reply.

The shower hadn't been too bad actually; just a few flies. The heat hadn't last long, but she'd gotten use to cold water. It had been short, but she was clean and that's really what mattered.

Itachi and she had disposed of the bodies, found lunch, and he'd left for the small town to get supplies and clothes. That left her and Tsunade with Naruto.

Looking at his face, really getting to look at it for the first in years, had struck her. He was older. Time had been taken from him; Danzou had done that to him. He had a five o'clock shadow along his chin and just under his nose that reminded her of when he used to complain about how he had almost no facial hair. The blonde strands on his head were longer than she last recalled, making her wonder when someone had last cut it.

He looked more like The Fourth now than ever before.

"Striking, isn't it?" Tsunade had asked her before they began. "Looks just like his father."

"Yeah," she'd agreed numbly. It was hard to ignore the way she wanted him to open up his blue eyes, shine them brightly on her and assure them it would be ok—all of it.

Naruto always gave that to everyone he met. The sham of a Hokage had robbed the world of a beautiful person for too long. She still had a hard time believing he'd bottled him at all like some gilded bird in a wire cage.

They'd worked for hours, four to be exact. With Tsunade she wouldn't be worn out as she had been with Itachi. They could take breaks and stretch. But then, the damage was nowhere near as bad as it had been with him either. In fact, aside from the drugs in his system Naruto was as healthy as a horse. She had a few theories, but one good one included lightening users and muscle twitching to prevent disuse.

When Itachi returned they were a half an hour away from stopping for the day; evening was starting to set in.

"We'll wrap up," she told him after taking a sip from the offered bottle of water, which she then gave to Tsunade.

"I have take-out."

"Awesome." She didn't even bother asking how he'd carried it all, but it had been on the tip of her tongue until she realized her own stupidity. Sealing scrolls.

"That should do it for the day," Tsunade said aloud, indicating it was enough once the time passed by. "Two more days… and then we wait."

"Will it take long for him to wake up, you think?" Sakura pulled an arm across her chest, tugging at bone and muscle until it popped.

"Maybe an hour or two. I'm not sure." She shrugged sadly. "I've only had one other case with such a sever coma due to drugs."

"But he'll wake up… right?"

"Ninety-five percent success rate."

She wanted to ask her how she had time to calculate that, but stopped short as the woman gave her a smile. "Yes, Sakura, he'll wake up. Everything checks out. The only thing keeping him asleep is the medication. Once that's gone his body will want to wake up. It's just a matter of letting things run their course after.

"Why are you asking me anyway?"

The pinkette sighed as she stood by the door. "I've never dealt with a case like this… He's been on these drugs for a while. I just… wanted some reassurance.

"It's Naruto."

"I know."

"Anyway, I'm going to go down and eat. Then we should probably pack up and head out."

"I plan on taking a shower first," Tsunade told her as she went for the bag Itachi had left when he'd come in some time ago. "I need to get out of his rag."

"Hopefully it'll be hotter for you than it was for me," Sakura told her as she slipped out and left, not wanting to hear the questioning. Although, she really did hope it was hotter. This would be the first shower she'd probably had that wasn't timed and had some level of privacy. The idea made her skin crawl.

She put it from her mind as she made her way into the kitchen and to the table where Itachi was already sitting, styrofoam box open.

"Waiting for us?" She smirked and grabbed a new bottle of water off the table. "Tsunade is taking a shower. You might be waiting a while for her." She nodded a thank you as he handed her one with some chopsticks. It was set before her and opened. "Greasy," she observed, "But it's food." She took a bite.

Itachi pushed rice around, mixing it with some of the sauce. "We'll leave in an hour and a half. It shouldn't take longer than that to pack after we're done eating."

"Did you get a shower?"

"While you were working, yes."

After that Sakura just nodded and dove into her food. She'd probably spoken more in the last two days than she had in the last nine years or so. She wasn't use to it. Even she and Itachi didn't converse all that much; not unless it was important… She wasn't unhappy about it, but she forgot how chatty her mentor was. When Naruto finally woke up there would be a lot more of it. It was something she hadn't really considered before.

All of this had always amounted up to just getting him out, getting him free. The after… that never been considered very well. She was happy for the first time in her life… and yet… afraid? She wasn't sure. Things were changing, as if gearing towards going back to what was. And yet, she wasn't sure she was ready for that. Her life was harsh, quiet, quick, and silent. And now, it felt as though noise would pervade her every crevice. It would be worth it, but she wasn't sure how well she would adapt.

Tsunade eventually came down; she griped a little about the cold water, rejoiced at the clean clothes, and then ate. There was a little talk about leaving, the agreed upon time, and then everyone left to go their separate ways to pack and clean up their surroundings for the journey. Sakura was as silent as Itachi as they filed things away; it was the norm for them. But, she wondered if he sensed her worry earlier. It was a fleeting thought she pushed away and let go of.

Things changed. They always would. Perhaps she was reading too much into something that wasn't really there at all.

They journeyed through the night, stopping only once to allow Naruto's body some rest Sakura and Tsunade were sure would be a good thing for him (now that they had the reprieve to do so). But the town itself took just the time they estimated it would to get to. Set off quietly in a niche little area, it sported very few shops, one inn, and two or three places to eat. They made sure to buy their tickets with only a half an hour away from sailing.

"I'll have to take another job after this," Sakura said aloud.

"Are we running out?" Itachi asked.

"Yes." She sighed, flipping through her small wallet. "I've got some left in a bank in Iron, but I'll like keeping it for emergencies. We'll have enough for this trip, but wherever we land… I'll need to do something. Both of us will if we want it done quickly." She glanced at Tsunade and Naruto where they sat on a bench. To anyone he looked like a sleeping youth with his mother. Her eyes narrowed above the edge of her face mask. "We can't leave them for long."

"You doubt Tsunade?"

"Not at all. I just don't like leaving her alone with Naruto. Danzou will tear the world apart to find him. We're more powerful together—in numbers—now.

"At least he'll be awake by then—hopefully. Still…"

He nodded, hands on his hips. Black orbs glanced up at the overhanging tree branches above him. His hood hung, draped over his back, revealing his full features to the shine of the moon. "We'll worry about that later."

"One thing at a time," she agreed. "But, we'll need money to find Sasuke." She smiled softly and crossed her arms over her chest, shifting from one foot to the other. "Despite what Naruto thinks… things can't get done with guts alone."

He smiled just the same as his gaze shifted to her. He watched as she turned to meet it when his hand settled on her shoulder. They stayed that way for a while, until the horn blared for the boat, indicating it was time to get on board and leave.

The rooms they ushered into weren't large, but it was considered a small dual suite and just above elite. Good enough for four people traveling together. One door separated both small rooms made of mostly steel. The toilets were a tiny room with a door, and, the kitchenette a small stove and sink. Showers would be taken down the hall in a communal area separated by gender. At least they'd be hot, but you didn't get much better on a ship that kept goods and supplies going from one place to other, only taking passengers as a means to make more money. But, it really was perfect for their purposes.

"Land of Water, huh?" Tsunade asked.

Sakura shrugged as she put her things away while Tsunade spoke with her. "It's not on the mainland. We'll land in one of the smaller islands and figure out what we're doing from there. Besides, Mist really isn't fond of Danzou, nor is Water's feudal lord; he won't go there without caution.

"It'll give us time to recoup, plan, get some money made, and then figure out just what the hell we're doing. It will also offer us the opportunity to find out if there's any new information about where Kakashi and others are as well, what with being so close to a hidden village." She paused, staring down at the open drawer. "You could even see about getting an audience with Mei-sama."

"I probably should, yes." Tsunade frowned and rubbed her chin as she leaned back into the door next to Sakura's bed; there were two of them in each wall. "She and I never got on badly."

Sakura chuckled. "You're both quite volatile."

Tsunade snorted. "Pot calling the kettle black there."

"Perhaps," Sakura agreed. Although, it had been a long time since her anger had gotten the better of her.

"Where did Itachi go?"

"To refill the water bottles. We figured it would better than buying more for the trip. What few he got before were just for lunch and breakfast at the safe house. Although, I'm not eating energy bars this whole ride. Even if the food here blows, and I'm sure it does, I'll take hot mess hall plate over granola any day."

Tsunade laughed. "When it's all you eat, yes, I can see that."

Sakura shut the drawer and straightened. "When did you want to start tomorrow on Naruto?"

"Noon?"

The pinkette blinked visibly, something Tsunade would see clearly with her hood and mask hanging around her neck.

"I just realized you cut your hair," she said with a frown, ignoring the odd look.

Sakura reached for it without much thought, looking up. She shrugged as dropped her arm. "It gets in the way when you're on the run."

Tsunade sighed long and hard. Her arms crossed over her chest and she continued to look at her.

"What?"

"I'm sorry."

"Huh…?"

The blonde came forward and enveloped her in a hug, really hugging her for the first time… since before she was imprisoned. The pinkette hadn't given it much thought because… because they'd been on the run from Root. At the safe house she'd just done what she'd always done. It hadn't really occurred to her how far removed she was from touching that she hadn't even given her mentor an embrace since finding her. She hadn't even done to same to Naruto.

Her chest tightened as she gripped her. Sakura didn't even hug her back, she was so far removed from the idea. Her body seized up on its own as her face warmed her and throat thickened—choking her.

"I didn't do any of it right. Perhaps if I'd fought harder none of this would have happened. Danzou wouldn't have…"

But it wasn't Sakura would was crying, it was Tsunade.

"You shouldn't have had to go through this. You or Naruto."

Sakura shook her head and put her arms around her once she felt like she could, squeezing once. "You did what you could. We all did. It doesn't matter anymore. The past can't be changed, right?" Her eyes fixated on a place on the wall.

"No, but we can make it better," she whispered, pulling away from her to meet her gaze, hands on her upper arms. "I will make this better."